Vertical tail stock support



May 16, 1967 G. E. PIPES 3,319,527

VERTICAL TAIL STOCK SUPPORT Filed Aug. 5, 1966 f c" fg 40 '1 If M :l

f i 30 /4 lc INVENTORQ 550265 f. PIPES ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent 3,319,527 VERTICAL TAIL STOCK SUPPORT George E. Pipes, 1968 S. Tuxedo St., Stockton, Calif. 95204 Filed Aug. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 570,081 Claims. (Cl. 90-23) This invention relates to a vertical tail stock support including means for adjusting the vertical support point.

The object of this invention is to provide a simplified tail stock support including means for vertical adjustment of the center point.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tail stock support comprising a novel and simplified tail stock support block.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel tail stock support block including a key slot and a key for carrying thereon a center point for engagement with stock material.

The provision of a combination of a novel support block including a key grooved front surface, a key and a center point is an additional object of this invention.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel tail stock support block having a key grooved front surface including therein a key carrying a center point and means for selectively adjusting the position of the key in the key groove.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and the drawings to which reference is now made.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the tail stock support of this invention showing it in position on the bed of a mill.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the tail stock support of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in partial cross section of the groove and recess conformation of the front surface of the tail stock block and the key and center point of this invention.

The tail stock support of this invention comprises a support block 10 including a base surface 12 for resting engagement with a mill bed 14. The base surface may include a tongue 16 for reception in a groove of the mill bed and a bolt or other means 18 for securing the block to the bed at a desired point.

The front surface of the support block forms an acute angle with the base surface of the support block. In the preferred embodiment the acute angle is approximately 67 /2 degrees. This forms a most convenient working angle; however, this exact angular relationship is not essential to the inventive concept of this invention.

The front surface 20 of the support block 10 forms therein a key groove 22 extending along the length thereof. In the preferred embodiment the key groove 22 extends along the entire length of the surface 22; however, it would not be absolutely necessary that the key groove extend the full length of the front surface.

The front surface also forms a recess 24 in the block extending from the key groove.

The support block includes a top surface 26 which, in the preferred embodiment, is substantially at right angles to the front surface 20. An aperture 28 extends from the top surface 26 to the recess 24. An opening 30 may extend downwardly from the bottom of recess 24.

A key 32 is slidably received and held in key groove 22 and carries on it a center point 34 attached to the key 32 by a pin, bolt or other frictional fastening means 36. The center point 34 engages the stock material 38 in the conventional manner. In the embodiment shown, the center point is a dead center but the invention includes the use of a blind center.

A bolt 40 extends through aperture 28 to opening 30 in the support block 10 and threadably engages key 32.

3 ,3 19,527 Patented May' 16, 1967 A handle 42 is provided on the end of bolt 40 to turn the bolt. It will be apparent that the position of the key and the center point may be adjusted by turning handle 42 and bolt 40 causing the key to move upwardly or downwardly.

Several important advantages to the tail stock support of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The tail stock of this invention has virtually unlimited vertical adjustment. The tail stock will adjust from approximately /2 inch above the base to any desired height depending upon the size of support block selected. The tail stock is excellent for milling keyways and for shafts that are too long or too large for dividing heads. Also, it will give support to shafts with small diameter ends where support is essential for cutting keyways. The tail stock can also be used with or without a dividing head.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the vertical tail stock support of this invention may be made lighter and more compact than the tail stocks of the prior art. The cost of manufacture may be considerably reduced from prior art tail stocks. Because of the compact working arrangement the tail stock support is not prone to error and malfunction as are many of the tail stock supports known previously. Other important advantages will be realized from the use of the tail stock support of this invention.

The invention has been illustrated with respect to specific embodiments; however, these embodiments are intended merely as exemplary of the invention and not in a limiting sense. Obvious modifications of the tail stock support of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vertical tail stock support comprising; a support block including integrally formed therein, a base surface for resting engagement with a mill bed, a front surface forming an acute angle with respect to the base surface forming therein a key groove along the length of the surface; a key slidably held in the key groove, a center point secured to the key for engagement with stock material, and means for adjustably moving the key along the key groove.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the support block further includes an integrally formed top surface substantially at right angles to the front surface, the front surface further forms a recess in the block from the key groove, the block forms an aperture extending from the top surface to the recess; and wherein the means for adjustably moving the key comprises a bolt threadably engaging the key and extending through the aperture.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for adjustably moving the key comprises a bolt threadably engaging the key.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the front and base surfaces form an angle of approximately 67 /2 degrees.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein the front and base surfaces form an angle of approximately 67 /2 degrees.

6. The invention of claim 3 wherein the front and base surfaces form an angle of approximately 67 /2 degrees.

7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the support block forms in the recess of the front surface an opening in the lower end of the recess which receives the lower end of the bolt.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein the support block forms in the recess of the front surface an opening in the lower end of the recess which receives the lower end of the bolt.

9. The invention of claim 8 further including a handle on the bolt for turning the bolt to adjust the key and center point position.

-3 F10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the base surface of the support block forms a tongue for engagement in a mill bed groove and further including means to secure the support block to the mill bed.

No references cited.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

LEONIDAS VLACHOS, Examiner. 

1. A VERTICAL TAIL STOCK SUPPORT COMPRISING; A SUPPORT BLOCK INCLUDING INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN, A BASE SURFACE FOR RESTING ENGAGEMENT WITH A MILL BED, A FRONT SURFACE FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE BASE SURFACE FORMING THEREIN A KEY GROOVE ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE SURFACE; A KEY SLIDABLY HELD IN THE KEY GROOVE, A CENTER POINT SECURED TO THE KEY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH STOCK MATERIAL, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY MOVING THE KEY ALONG THE KEY GROOVE. 